Proverbs 11

ARGUMENT.’ This chapter consists of many promiscuous observations, concerning such things as will make men happy or miserable. It begins with an admonition concerning justice in our dealings one with another; without which society (which God designs, and takes a special care to uphold) cannot bo preserved. And mankind being very apt to be regardless what they do towards God, or towards man, when they grow rich and great, he next gives a caution against pride and insolence, as a certain forerunner of ruin. For it consisting in forgctfulness of God, confidence in men’s selves, despising others, slighting good counsels, and attempting things out of the bounds of men’s place and calling (all which proceed from stupid folly), naturally leads men headlong into destruction. Then he commends sincerity and charity, (ver. 3, 4.) and represents the vast difference between virtue and wickedness, in order to men’s private safety, (ver. 5, 6, &c.) and to the public security, (ver. iO, 11.) After which follow a great many prudent observations and advices for men’s private,,and for the common good; with such remarks upon sundry virtues and vices, as are sufficient # to invite to the one, and deter from the other. [a] Among the rest there is one, ver. 21. (translated thus by, us, though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished) upon which there are as many glosses almost as there are interpreters. But I have only put together those two senses of the former part of the verse, which are most agreeable to the latter; and do not think fit to trouble the reader with the other, any farther than merely to inform him of this one thing: That most interpreters by hand in hand understand the hands of divers persons; but some few take it for the hands of one and the same person, who puts one hand into the other. And these last named make the sense one of these two ways: either that though a sinner endeavour to hide his sin (as a man doth a thing which he holds in one hand and covers with the other), he shall notwithstanding be found out and suffer for it; or that, though wicked men do nothing, but like an idle person have their hands folded one in tho other, yet they are not free from sin, which they are devising in their mind, and will draw a just vengeance upon them. [6] In the next verse I have followed Bochartus, dc Animal. Sac. par. i. lib. ii. cap. 57. in his translation of those two words, DUD IT1D which he renders, her.mind departed, viz. from the love of her husband: but I.have not neglected the other sense, of which I think those words are capable. [c] In the twenty-ninth verse I have adhered to the opinion of the Lord Bacon, (book viii. of the Advanc. of Learning, chap. ii. parab. 9.) who takes it for " a profitable admonition, touching discords in families and domestic breaches (but may as well be applied to whole kingdoms, which are larger families), which whosoever cherishes among his children, or servants (or people), as a means to have his affairs better administered when they have an evil eye upon and hate one another, commonly finds his hopes turn into wind. For those alterations and changes, for the most part, succeed ill: and those dis-. turbers of their own families oftentimes meet with vexations and ingratitudes from those very persons whom (passing by others) they adopt as the objects of their. special favour: nay, by this means they draw upon themselves ill reports and doubtful rumours; for it is not ill observed by Cicero, that all reports, both good and bad fame, come from domestics. Which two evils (he thinks) Solomon expresses by inheriting the wind: for the frustrating of expectations and raising of rumours are rightly compared unto tuinds." I have added in the Paraphrase two other things belonging to wind; which makes a great noise, and leaves nothing behind it: for all make it an emblem of emptiness. [rf] The last verse is a wise consideration suggested to good men, when they arc under the oppressions of the wicked: that if the just be afflicted (as Melancthon glosses), who seriously endeavour amendment of life, God will take a time to reckon with those lewd men, who contumaciously and furiously persist in their wickedness. So the wise man (says he) admonishes ns of two things. First, that the church is subject to the cross, which the cruelty of tyrants may lay upon it: but, secondly, those tyrants must one day answer for their cruelty by sharp punishments upon themselves: nay, though they flourish for some time, at last (says he) they are shaken out of their empires. Hither he applies those known words of the poet, Ad generum Cereris sine c<ede, &c. Scntmcnt), therefore a thoroughly prudent person, whatsoever he thinks of others, saith nothing to their reproach.

Proverbs 11:1

J. FALSE balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight. It is not so small a sin as men imagine, to cheat their neighbour (though it be only in a little matter), but extremely hateful and detestable to the great Lord and Governor of the world: as, on the other side, exactly just and equal dealing in all our commerce one with egiother, is highly pleasing to him.

Proverbs 11:2

When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. Do not entertain a haughty conceit of thyself, nor insult over others; for the folly of this appears, in drawing along with it that contempt and disgrace, which above all things such men would avoid: therefore be humble and modest; the wisdom of which is manifest, from the universal respect which it gains every where.

Proverbs 11:3

TJie integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. The integrity of those that uprightly observe the rules of virtue, is their highest prudence, and safest guide, through all manner of difficulties and dangers: but the crafty wiliness of perfidious men, who will be tied unto no laws, is mere folly; and shall be so far from preserving them, that it shall prove their certain destruction.

Proverbs 11:4

Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. Heaps of wealth, amassed by extortion or covetousness, shall as little avail as subtilty and cunning, when God, in his righteous displeasure, shall punish the world by a common calamity: but justice, accompanied with mercy, (as hath been observed already, x. 2.) will befriend him that hath constantly practised them, and rescue him, even when there is no hope of safety. (See Ecclus. xxix.ll— 13. xl. 24.)

Proverbs 11:5

17ie righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. Remember this (and be not nauseated at the repetition of it, for it is a weighty truth), that there is no surer guide to direct men in the plain way to safety, or any other good, than a sincere and impartial observance of all GodVlaws: but that the wicked shall perish by those very impious courses (of lies, suppose, breach of promises, perjuries, and oppression), whereby they think to greaten or to secure themr selves.

Proverbs 11:6

Hie righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. Remember it, I say (for it cannot be too often inculcated), that the virtue of unfeignedly and entirely upright men, shall be their preservative when they are in danger: but they that are governed wholly by their own depraved desires and interests, shall be entangled, and inevitably perish in their own naughty contrivances.

Proverbs 11:7

Wlien a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; and the hope of unjust men perisheth. Do not imagine, therefore, that they have the advantage of others> who are loose from all laws. They may seem so to have for the present: but, beside what I have now said, it must be considered that death (and how suddenly doth that sometimes overtake them) utterly destroys all their projects and hopes: whatsoever they expected to accomplish by their riches, or their power, or their friends, it perisheth together with them.

Proverbs 11:8

Hie righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead. Nay, before that, it is frequently seen, that a just man is unexpectedly drawn out of those straits and difficulties wherein he was perplexed, and the wicked (who, perhaps, brought him into them) takes the place which he hath left; falling into those very distresses from which the just is happily freed.

Proverbs 11:9

A hypocrite ivith his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered. And, more than this, a good man hath this advantage by his wisdom, that it sometimes instructs many how to evade those snares, which the profane hypocrite, with counterfeit professions of friendship, lays to destroy his neighbours..

Proverbs 11:10

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. We sec also in this, how amiable virtue, and how hateful vice is, that the inhabitants of a city generally leap for joy when good men prosper, and are advanced unto power: but are so far from pitying the downfall of the wicked, that they shout when they behold them tumbling from the high places to which they were raised.

Proverbs 11:11

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked. Men of unbiassed virtue make a city flourish by the blessings they procure for it from heaven, by their prayers, by their prudent advice, their pious admonitions, and their constant study of the public good; but the wicked, by their blasphemies, their evil counsels, their pestilent maxims, their impious doctrines, whereby they corrupt men’s manners, utterly subvert the good estate thereof.

Proverbs 11:12

He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. It is a great weakness to speak contemptuously of any man, or to render him ridiculous (for no man is so mean but he is sensible of dcspisal, and, may find ways to shew his re-

Proverbs 11:13

ii tale-bearer revealeth secrets: but he that is °f a faithful spirit concealeth the matter J. A man whoso trade it is to ingratiate himself by defaming others, will not stick most treacherously to discover the secrets wherewith they have entrusted him; but a man whose mind is steadfastly fixed to be true and faithful to his neighbours, will study (though they have not desired him) to hide those things, which, being known, may prove injurious to them.

Proverbs 11:14

Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.*. Where prudent counsellors arc wanting, a nation goes to wreck, as certainly as a ship doth without a pilot: nor is one sufficient; but then a country is safe, when there are maiiy wise men to govern affairs: that if one fail, there may enough still remain; or what one or two sees not, others may be able to discern. •*''

Proverbs 11:15

tie that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; and he that hateth suretyship is sure.*. He is in great danger to be undone, who stands bound to pay the debts of another man, especially of a stranger, (vi. 1.) whose ability and honesty are unknown to him; and the way to be secure from that fear is, not only to avoid such engagements one’s self, but to abhor to see other men enter into them.

Proverbs 11:16

A gracious woman retaineth honour; and strong men retain riches. Beauty and virtue in a woman advance her to honour; as formidable strength and power in men advance them to riches: and as their principal care is to keep their treasures, so hers should be to preserve her reputation.

Proverbs 11:17

The merciful man doeth good to his oivn soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh. He that hath a heart to be kind and bountiful unto his neighbours, will hnv6 this advantage by it, among many others, that he will not deny what is fit and convenient to himself; whereas the covetous and hardhearted, as he hath no regard to his nearest relations, so he pinches his own flesh by his sordid way of living. Ver.! 18. TJie wicked worketh a deceitful work: but.to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.] He thinks perhaps hereby to raise himself, or his posterity, to greatness, but, like all other wicked men, will bo deceived in his expectation; for the event of his actions never answers the design; but virtuous men shall infallibly reap the fruit of their pious, just, and charitable labours.

Proverbs 11:19

As righteousness tendeth to life; so he that pursiteth evil, pursueth it to his own death. Thus God orders it in his providence, and thus it is in the nature of things, that virtue tends to make men happy: but the more eagerly any man pursues an evil thing, the more he is bent upon his own destruction.

Proverbs 11:20

They that are of afroward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight. Of all other men they are most odious to the Lord, who pretend to justice, kindness, and truth, but study and advise how to compass their ends, though it be by the wickedest means: as, on the contrary, they whose exact observance of the rules of righteousness in the whole course of their lives testify the integrity of their hearts, arc highly in his favour and love.

Proverbs 11:21

TJiough hand join in.hand, the wicked shall not betinpnirished: but the seed < of thb righteous shall be delivered. Though, the wicked cntleavonr to Strengthen himself and his family by powerful leagues and confederacies, and his successors also have mighty associates t6 rtiaintain his acquisitions, they shall not beable to defend themselves from the.punishment their iniquity deserves:‘but the posterity of the righteous necSd not be at Such pains; but, though deserted, by men, escape the danger into which “the Others fall, by the help of God alone. See Arg. [a]’

Proverbs 11:22

As a jewel of gold in a sivihe’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion. As a gulden ring is ill placed in the snout of a swine, which is always routing.in the mire’; so is beauty ill bestowed on the body of a woman whose ihind, having lost all savour and relish of virtue, carries her from her husband, to wallow in filthy lust, and adulterous pleasures. SeeArg. [6] Ver; 23. Tixe desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.] The righteous desire nothing but thatit may’be well with all men; but the wicked wish for trouble and* disturbance, especially that they may execute their malice and wrath upon those whom they hate: and accordingly God wall deal with them; good things shall be the portion of the righteous, but his just indignation shall frustrate the expectation of the wicked.

Proverbs 11:24

There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty. You may see by this how miserably they are mistaken, who imagine none so wise as the penurious; that you shall find here and there a man who communicates readily and liberally to the necessities of others, and yet’his estate* is so far from being impaired thereby, that it increases: “when others, who are so saving that they will part with nothing, no, not upon the. most just occasions, do not thrive at. all, but by one means or other become beggars! • Ver.;‘25. The liberal soul shall be made fat; and he that watereth shall be tvatered atsohimself] Let. not him therefore that bestows benefits, imagine thereby he shall be impoverished, for it is the certain way to enrich himself: and the. larger his charity is, and the more diffused for the refreshment of others, the greater abundance shall be poured on him, and the abler still shall. he grow to do more good. Ver. 2(3. He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.] He that hoardeth up corn in a time of scarcity, on purpose to raise the price, shall fall into the popular hatred, and be loaded with many a curse: but he who then opens his granaries and sells at a moderate rate, shall not only have the people’s good word, but the blessing of God.

Proverbs 11:27

He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief it shall come unto him. He that from the time he rises, studies nothing but how to do good to others, shall obtain favour both with God and man; but he whose business it is to do mischief, shall draw upon himself the evil he designs against others.

Proverbs 11:28

He that trustcth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch. He whose confidence in riches, as the surest support and defence, makes him covetous, unjust, and unmerciful, shall fall to decay liko a withered leaf: but they whose pious dependance upon